Chen and Hochevar pitch Royals past Athletics

Kansas City Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar throws to first in a pick-off attempt during the fourth inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game against the Oakland Athletics Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
— AP

Kansas City Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar throws to first in a pick-off attempt during the fourth inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game against the Oakland Athletics Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
/ AP

"He's getting his work in, but he obviously would like to do better than that," said bench coach and acting manager Chip Hale. "There was some pretty hard contact. He probably missed a little bit too much over the plate. He felt good after he was done. His velocity was good. He used all of his pitches."

Grant Green, a career .302 hitter in four minor league seasons, stroked two doubles for his third consecutive two-hit game.

"He's swinging the bat great," Hale said. "It's the same stuff we see every day in batting practice. He just hasn't had a whole lot of opportunity to play. Since he's got the opportunity, he's shown us why he had the big year last year in Triple-A offensively and the move to second base is looking good right now."

Hiroyuki Nakajima doubled in the second inning for his first extra-base hit and scored on a John Jaso single. Nakajima, a nine-time All-Star in Japan who signed with the A's in December, also struck out in the sixth, his nine strikeout in 17 at-bats.